SEONG JIN CHO | RAVEL: THE COMPLETE SOLO PIANO WORKS
Label: Deutsche Grammophon | Release date: January 31, 2005
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Seong Jin Cho has chosen to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth by recording his complete piano works. In this first instalment, he presents the entirety of Ravel’s solo piano repertoire.
Cho stated that he had admired Ravel’s music since childhood, but it was only when, at the age of 18, he left South Korea and moved to Paris to continue his studies that he began to understand it more deeply.
It is well known that Ravel’s solo piano works are among the most technically challenging in the repertoire. However, beyond the intricate passages, which pose no problem for a pianist of Cho’s calibre, he delves deeply into the essence of these solo works, bringing out the composer’s orchestral sound and meticulous attention to detail.
The second album will be released on February 21, featuring the Piano Concerto in G major and the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andris Nelsons.
OVERVIEW
Seong-Jin Cho is a South Korean pianist who gained international prominence after winning First Prize at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Born in Seoul on May 28, 1994, he began playing the piano at the age of six and made his first public recital debut at eleven. His formative years included studying under Michel Béroff at the “Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris” from 2012 to 2015. During the 2024/25 season, Cho serves as the Artist-in-Residence with the Berliner Philharmoniker, a testament to his growing stature in the classical music world.
Cho has performed with world-renowned orchestras. His critically acclaimed recordings with Deutsche Grammophon include “The Handel Project” and Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.”
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MARMEN QUARTET | LIGETI AND BARTÓK: STRING QUARTETS
Label: Bis Records | Release date: January 17, 2025
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Some of the most intriguing and challenging string quartet music of the 20th century comes from Hungary, particularly from György Ligeti and Béla Bartók.
For their debut album, the Marmen Quartet doesn’t shy away from challenges and has chosen to tackle this demanding repertoire. The album features two string quartets by Ligeti, each representing distinct phases of his career: the early String Quartet No. 1, Métamorphoses nocturnes, and the more experimental String Quartet No. 2, composed after Ligeti left Hungary.
Ligeti’s String Quartet No. 1, Métamorphoses nocturnes, composed in 1953–54, represents what the composer referred to as “the prehistoric Ligeti,” a phase of his works created before his departure from Hungary in 1956. The piece is deeply rooted in the musical language of Central Europe, reflecting Ligeti’s early influences while also showcasing the early signs of his distinct approach to texture and form.
In contrast, Ligeti’s String Quartet No. 2, composed in 1968, marks a dramatic shift in his musical language. It is much more experimental and reflects his involvement with the avant-garde movement of the time. Unlike the lyrical, atonal character of the Métamorphoses nocturnes, the second quartet is marked by complex rhythmic patterns, extended techniques, and a highly fragmented structure. The piece pushes the boundaries of string quartet writing, with the composer exploring new ways to create tension and texture.
Between these two works, Bartók’s String Quartet No. 4 is strategically placed. Bartók’s influence on Ligeti is well-documented, and it’s fascinating to consider how the earlier work of the Hungarian master shaped the younger composer’s development. Bartók’s impact on Ligeti is so significant that György Kurtág famously referred to Métamorphoses nocturnes as “Bartók’s seventh string quartet.” While Ligeti sought to break free from this influence, he could not fully escape it. The inclusion of Bartók’s String Quartet No. 4 in the album highlights how the older composer’s shadow looms over Ligeti’s early work, while also serving as a bridge to the more independent voice Ligeti would later develop.
OVERVIEW
The Marmen Quartet, founded in 2013 at the Royal College of Music in London, comprises violinists Johannes Marmen and Laia Valentin Braun, violist Bryony Gibson-Cornish, and cellist Sinéad O’Halloran. The ensemble has rapidly gained recognition for its courageous, vital, and intense performances, establishing itself as a prominent talent in the chamber music arena. In 2019, they secured First Prizes at both the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and the Banff International String Quartet Competition, where they also received the Haydn and Canadian Commission prizes.
The quartet has performed at leading European venues, including Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, and Stockholm Konserthuset, and has participated in festivals such as the BBC Proms and Lockenhaus.
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